JACKSONVILLE, FL – Justin Kea finished with a goal and two assists to lead the Florida Everblades to a 5-1 victory over the Jacksonville Icemen Thursday night at Veterans Memorial Arena. The Everblades secured the Brabham Cup, which is awarded to the ECHL’s regular season champion for finishing with the best record. It marked the third time Florida has earned the regular season trophy (1999-2000 & 2008-09). In addition the Everblades (51-13-2-4) tied a club record for points in a season with 108 points originally set back in the 1999-2000 seaosn.
It took just 90 seconds for the Everblades to fire their first warning shot, when Sam Warning recorded a goal on his first shift in an Everblades uniform. Spencer Smallman delivered a cross-ice pass to Warning who cut to the top of the crease and slid a backhand shot through the five-hole of Jacksonville netminder Austin Lotz to put Florida in front 1-0.
Just 28 seconds later, the Everblades extended their lead to 2-0 on a tally by Logan Roe. Roe received a pass from behind the net that wandered to him at the high slot. Roe curled a wroster that clipped past the leg pad of Lotz for the tally.
Florida continued to build on its lead on with a power play strike at 9:13 of the opening frame. Gus Young hammered a shot from the center point that was tipped and redirected into the net by Joe Cox.
The Everblades made it 4-0 before the close of the period, following a great play by newcomer Blake Winiecki. The rookie forward from St. Cloud State University picked the pocket of a Jacksonville player attempting to skate the puck out of the zone. Winiecki then took off toward net and delivered a shot that was stopped by Lotz. However, the rebound bounced to Kea who tapped the puck into the net foe the tally.
The Icemen got on the board at 5:17 of the middle frame when Everett Clark raced to a rebound at the right side of the crease and cut a backhand shot high into the net over the shoulder of Florida netminder Martin Ouellette to put the count at 4-1.
Nearly four minutes later, the Everblades countered when Kea and Kyle Neuber broke in on a 2-on-1 rush. Kea carried the puck into the zone and delivered a pass across to Neuber who buried his shot behind Lotz to extend the Florida lead to 5-1 at the close of the second period.
Neither team generated much offense in the third period, combining for just seven shots on goal, as the score remained 5-1 at the end of regulation.
The two teams will meet again on Friday in Jacksonville at 7:30 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Newcomer Blake Winiecki recorded the first points of his professional career (2 assists)… The Everblades held Jacksonville to a season low 13 shots on goal, while both team combined for 30 shots on net for the entire game.
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